Test Drive Fiat Fiat 500L since 2012 Hatchback

With amendment for a while

- Oh, what cutie! Oh, what a pretty! Ah, what a face! It's your?
- Yes, thank you, I also like it.
- No, well, you look at what charm! What is the name of?
- Fiat 500.
- Fiat? Well, it is necessary! And how much does it cost?
- 670 thousand rubles!
- Wow! And what is so expensive?
- You see, glamor nowadays!
 
Similar dialogues I had to guide almost every time I left the car. Perhaps this quantity of attention to a small typewriter I never felt in my life. And the same representatives of both the beautiful half of humanity and the strong half were shaken. Manits Fiatik! My mother always says that she likes buses and cars of the 50s, because they, in her opinion, like alive, similar to people. The headlights of the headlights of Togo are winning, and the grill of the radiator stretches in a friendly smile. Of course, the best of all in our time it was possible to revive cars from John Lasstere and Joe Banftu directors of the cartoon wheelbarrow. Well, after all, then animation, and here real life. Fiat designers were able to breathe in their baby's life he is alive!
Perhaps the reason for this cheerfulness of the five hundred and lies in the fact that his dad is just about their 50s, from the generation of cars with persons. Everyone knows that modern Fiat 500 is made based on the most legendary Italian folk car. But still half a century passed, in the world today, other values \u200b\u200bof both psychological and technological. Therefore, once again Bravo Fiat for the fact that he decided on this reincarnation. Let the futik confused its main trumps, which he flashed in the middle of the last century: simplicity, efficiency and accessibility for everyone. But it was possible to keep the attractiveness and brightness. In our country, for some reason, it is customary to call Glamor. This is the reason for universal love. We love glamorous things. Even if there are few benefits.
Does it have it from Fiat 500? Honestly, in addition to the aesthetic component, not very. First of all due to supercompact sizes. We must pay tribute to modern constructors, they learned to combine the cars of the younger class, and so that four people will be able to fit into them. But still a full comfort for four adults from the car 3.5 m long and 1.6 meters width should not be expected. There is nothing in front. Of course, ergonomics are far from ideal for example, sit as in the tractor, the downturn, constantly touching the elbows with the neighbor.
But glamor and comes here. We look at all these fashionable filhes like chrome-plated handles or on a spawning saucer with two arrows chasing each other, swelling quite pleasant perforated skin on the armrest, you will run for comfortable (again leather) gear lever ball and think: Yes, and damn with her, With ergonomics! But how is everything cute and original! Music is more fun and pogromed to drown out numerous noises (tires, engine, wind at high speeds), and go ahead!
Yes, Fiat 500 can take on board two adult passengers. But it is connected with a number of obvious inconveniences. For example, these two will have to, loosen in three deaths, shook through narrow LAZ. Then you can sit behind, although it is also possible, but also it is not very convenient: the stock of the space on the legs and shoulders is right, but the low-end roof presses, and the impossibility of instant yield gives rise to claustrophobia, which is enhanced with increasing speed and the number of holes in the back thickening. Talking with sitting front in motion is almost impossible, they do not hear you, and you. In general, disassembled backs, and Glamor, they did not get only a leather finish of flat seats. So it is better to use a small machine for its intended purpose, namely ride nothing more than together.
And in the content of phiatrics there is no trace from the simplicity of the progenitor. There you have a new 1,4-liter motor with a hundred horses, and a six-speed box, and an electric steering amplifier, and disc brakes on all wheels. There is a substitution of ideology: from the affordable car for all, it turned into a fashionable technological toy. Italians always knew how to teach their cars to the right behavior on the road, regardless of the size. In addition to exclusively favorable sensations that he is willing to deliver to his contemplation, Fiat 500 will also like the driver. Immediately, the disadvantage of some young ladies, which at the sight of the 500 photos will immediately reach out for her husband's banknotes unfortunately, the option with the most powerful 1,4-liter motor is available only on the handle. But with 1,2-liter 70-strong can order a robot. Although, most likely, less power will not be an obstacle, because he is so pretty!.
Founding under the Euro-5, a 100-strong engine has been noticeably. It seems to be a hundred forces for this kid should be enough with an excess. But it is not. The motor is strangled, the reaction to the press of the gas pedal is extremely charged, transfers are incredibly stretched (on the third one can accelerate almost up to 160 km / h). All this leads to the fact that overclocking is moderate. Gas pedal acute adds pressing the Sport button on the front panel. It also makes the steering wheel harder, in the version of Lounge, instead of sports, ultralight city mode is included. I would not call it the necessary measure for an active ride, it would be better to appear more feedback.
But despite all these again, glamorous-ecological troubles, it is pleasant to drive in phoutics. Arranged in the corners of the wheel, elastic suspension. And modest dimensions and a good steering wheel make it perfectly to feel both dimensions and angle of rotation of the wheels. Down with Glamor, give a hard drive! Fiat, exhausted even more humpback back, rushes forward. In the turn behaves in an adult turning close to neutral. But it is possible in driving. Sorry, ESP cannot be completely disabled. The baby is so understandable and easy to manage that it strains. Especially at the output from slip, when you need to open gas, and ESP still pulls the ABS system and cuts the fuel supply. For its modest acceleration potential of Fiat completely reciprocated with a magnificent suspension. And comfort for a small car, it provides excellent, and the stack allows you to completely. Backers and pit smoothed canceled. In the turn of irregularity almost do not affect the trajectories. Of course, at high speeds, the car becomes a bit of a helicate, but it is rather a short base, rather than the suspension.
Glamor is now roads, and therefore about the economy to speak somehow awkward. But need. Especially since it is not a problem to eat 10 liters for the 500th is not a problem. Many? Again you consider money! Empty it. Better count the number of eyes abandoned on Fiat and index fingers aimed in its direction. I look at the new Fiat 500 under the window, and in the computer photo of his ancestor from the distant 1957. Much has changed: more technologies, more frills and more money at the exit. But it is unlikely that someone today says that the idea of \u200b\u200bthe original five hundred perverted and its essence is incorrect. Reincarnation could not be different. Look at the same mini! Fiat 500 is the embodiment of history, traditions, this is a brand recognizable by decades. Today, for originality with such a powerful historical background, it is considered to overpay. This is the normal order of things.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Engine
The car provided for a test was equipped with a top 1.4-liter row four-cylinder engine of the Fire family (in the past Starjet, installed also on the camshafts and 16-valves. The working volume of the combustion chamber was 1368 cm with a piston diameter of 72 mm and its course in 84 mm. Someone may seem that 100 hp and 131 nm outstanding results for a hopeless motor so small volume. In fact, Alfa Romeo, which is part of the FIAT concern, in the late 1980s of the last century, had some of its own models (for example 33) with 1.4-liter engines, which were already developing 90 forces. So not so great progress. In addition, with a mass of cars about a ton of 100 hp More often it turns out to be not enough than a lot. At the same time, there is even less powerful modification with the Fire 1.2 L engine (69 hp). Apparently, for those who never rush anywhere. Both of these motors satisfy the coming ecological requirements of Euro-5. For the European market, naturally, a diesel version with a Multijet Multijet engine is offered. This Turbodiesel with the COMMON Rail system develops 75 forces and 145 nm.
Chassis
The 500th platform borrowed from Fiat Panda. They even have the same length and wheeled base! Yes, and produce these cars (and together with them also Ford Ka) at the same plant in Poland. Of course, for the 500th pendants were reconfigured, but constructively, they are as simple as the Panda, McPherson in front and beam on the twist behind. But the brakes have 500 on all wheels disc, and on the 1,4-liter version of the front even ventilated unlike Panda. Steering with a DualDrive Electrical Customer, which can work both in normal mode and in city city (on simple Fiat 500 modifications) or sports on Sport version.
 
History of the model
It so happened that even before the modern 500rd in the history of the Italian car industry, two models were lit with the same name, and the Great Fiatovsky designer Dante Jacos was worked on both of both. For these cars were simple as orange, design, small dimensions, efficiency and low cost.
The first Italian Mickey Mouse (this is how it is possible to translate his nickname Topolino) appeared before the Second World War, in 1936. A promstetsky car with a 569-cubic four-cylinder engine made by console for the front axle, and the radiator located behind him was the rear-wheel drive senory Anueli did not favor the front-wheel drive. Topolino could accelerate to 85 km / h, while consuming about 6 liters of gasoline per 100 km. Momens, surviving two minor upgrades, continued to be issued after the war, until 1955, when it became clear that the 500th finally lagging behind his time. Obtained in an amount greater than half a million copies, Mickey Mouse went on peace.
At the same time, Jacos and began work on a new five hundred. He was released in 1957, and call him Bambino, or Nuova 500. The basis was taken not very successful model 600, very, by the way, similar to our humpback. It was this 500rd that was destined to become a cult car. Until 1975, he divided into peace by almost four million copies. Low-power, but light, close, but economical, well-managed, simple and extremely reliable car came as it is impossible in Italy, as well as in Europe, despite the fact that the two-cylinder half-liter motor developed only from 13 to 21 hp The length of the new five hundred was 2970 mm, width 1320, height 1325; Wheel base 1840 mm. The planting formula 2 + 2, adults were arranged in front, and behind the children only at best. Pedals barely placed between the wheel arch and the central tunnel.
Despite the engine located in the rear breath, the formation of the formation was not much 43.5% on the front axle and 56.5% on the back. It was possible to achieve this by laying TRANSAXLE; Manual 4-speed gearbox was located in front of the rear axle. In the front suspension, double transverse levers (with a transverse leaf spring) were used, in the rear oblique levers and screw springs. Steering mechanism (worm-sector) Hello from the past, like drum brakes in a circle. The interior was heated by air directly from the engine cooling system. But there were desisted, and not the sliding door glasses and the plated roof opened and breathe fresh with the Mediterranean air.
Dmitry Krotov
 
 

A source: Motor magazine [March 2009]